Seasonal

06

by Deanna Mooney

1259

As of June 1st, hurricane season is back again. While hurricane season can be long (it officially goes through November 30th), it’s best to be prepared ahead of time. A hurricane can quickly cause widespread devastation, but planning and preparing can make a big difference in the case of an emergency. Here’s 6 important ways to prepare for this years hurricane season.

Plan Your Evacuation

If you live in an area that may need to evacuate, especially coastal or low-lying areas, plan your evacuation ahead of time. Check with your state’s Department of Transportation or Office Emergency Management website to find what roads are used for evacuations during an emergency. Even if you don’t live in an evacuation area, it’s still a good idea to be aware of these evacuation routes. Most cities and counties also have an emergency shelter location that you should know of beforehand. Plan ahead of time where you will go once you evacuate- whether that be a family or friend’s home, or a specific city or state.

Stock Up Your Pantry

Items like bottled water and canned goods fly off the shelves when a hurricane is approaching. When a hurricane is a huge threat, many stores run out of supplies quickly, and you may not be able to get them in time. Since stores are currently very stocked up, grab gallons of water, canned foods and non-perishable goods the next time you head to the grocery or convenience store. It is suggest to have at least a 3-5 day supply of food and water for your family during an emergency.

Gather Emergency Supplies

Gathering emergency supplies in advance is a necessity before a hurricane arrives. Just to name a few, you’ll need to have flashlights/candles, matches, first aid kid, radio, toiletries, batteries, portable phone chargers, and blankets. Ready.gov has a full list of emergency supplies to have on hand. If you have any important medications or medical equipment, make sure your prescriptions are up to date and you have enough on hand.

Organize Critical Documents

If an evacuation is mandatory, or if you are choosing to evacuate, you may be in a hurry to grab your stuff and hit the road. Taking important paper documents with you is extremely important. Get a binder or some type of storage, preferably one that is waterproof, for your paperwork and gather all your papers ahead of time. Besides items like birth certificates, passports and social security cards, print extra copies of documents like your health insurance, home owners insurance, bank information and an emergency contact list. Keep some extra cash in with these documents too, as you may need some if you evacuate.

Check Your Insurance

Insurance plays a huge factor into the aftermath of hurricane destruction. It’s best to review all details of your insurance before a hurricane hits, so you are well informed on your coverage as well as the insurance company’s policies. Home or renter’s insurance is most important, but don’t forget to check on health insurance, car insurance, storage unit insurance, flood insurance. and any other insurance you may have.

Prepare Your Home

If your home could possibly be damaged by a hurricane, it’s a good plan to stock up early on items like sandbags to put by doors and plywood to cover windows to help keep your home safe during the storm. For inside your home, invest in surge protectors so your electronics don’t get fried if there’s a power outage. Outside, check that all your drains and gutters are cleared out so they are draining correctly and won’t create more flooding. If you have items like patio furniture, potted plants, flagpoles or any other items that may need to be put in before a hurricane comes, make sure you’ve cleared some room in your garage, attic, spare room or storage unit to put these items away for safety.

While we all hope this hurricane season will be more calm than last year, you never know what mother nature has in store this season. Remember, safety is most important, and you should always listen to government guidelines and mandates. Utilize these tips so you can be prepared ahead of time and have a safe game plan during hurricane season!

11

May 2018

by Deanna Mooney

1493

Can you believe the summer months are already almost here? Neither can we! Summertime can be filled with wonderful things like vacations, beach days, kids camps and so much more. Getting prepared now can help make your summer a relaxing and stress-free time! Here’s 6 ways to get super organized before the summer fun starts.

Create A Summer Car Kit

Nothing is worse than getting to the beach or pool and realizing you left something important at home, like sunscreen or towels. With a Summer car kit, no need to worry if you left something at home! Fill a plastic tote bin up with all your outdoor necessities- like an extra change of clothes, hats, sunscreen, snacks, hand sanitizer, first aid kid, and any other items you love bringing with you on your day trips. Keep your bin in your car so your kit is with you wherever you go!

Keep Track Of Your Summer Activities With A Checklist

If you’re a busy mother or father with kids, a sociable college student on break, or just someone trying to take advantage of some of the best months of the year- it’s sometimes hard to keep track of all of your plans summer plans. Try utilizing a printable summer workbook checklist to keep yourself accountable for all your goals and events. Daily and weekly checklists are a great way to remember your gym classes, sports games and practices, birthday parties, and the any of the other things you and your family may have planned!

Prep Snacks For Busy Days

We’ve all had those days where you’re running around and all of a sudden it hits you- you’re hungry! Instead of heading out to your favorite fast food place or ruining your diet with an unhealthy snack, prep some freezer friendly foods that you can pop out and make in a few minutes. For breakfast or snacks, smoothie packs are perfect for on the go. Try something like easy frozen yogurt bites or DIY freezer Uncrustable sandwiches that are loved by everyone of all ages and easy to take with you.

Pull Seasonal Items From Your Attic Or Storage Unit

Some of your favorite summer items, like swimsuits, bicycles, warm weather clothing, or pool toys, may be stored away in places like your attic or storage unit. Instead of waiting until the last minute, start your summer break off on the right foot and get the summer items you need out sooner than later. Take any cooler weather items you won’t be using over summer break, and put them away in storage to give yourself some more space.

Create Extra Storage With Pallet Wood or PVC Pipes

Making extra storage doesn’t have to be expensive! There are so many DIY projects to create extra space in your home or outdoor space using pallet wood or PVC pipes. Storage can be created to hold pool toys, arts and crafts, garage tools and so much more. If you’re interested in getting a head start on making storage for summer, check out our blog post to see 8 ways to use PVC pipes for storage.

Stock Up On Inexpensive Bins

Help keep your home clutter free this summer by stocking up on inexpensive bins or baskets. Place the bins in your outdoor area to keep pool toys and towels, in the garage on a shelving unit to store outdoor toys, or in your home to keep flip flops and summer shoes in one spot. The possibilities are endless with bins or baskets, and you don’t have to break the bank to do so- you can find them at your local dollar store!

Whether your summer is jam packed with plans, or you just see yourself spending some time going to the beach or hanging out with friends or family, make your summer that much better by getting organized ahead of time!

17

Apr 2018

by Deanna Mooney

1035

Summer is approaching which means it’s time for college students to store your belongings over summer break! Starting April 1st until May 31st, rent a storage unit with us and ‘share’ our pinned contest post on our Facebook page to be entered to win an Amazon Echo Spot!

Rules: Contest open to legal residents who are age 18 or older. Must rent unit between the dates of 4/1/2018 and 5/31/2018. Unit must be rented at one of our eligible locations. Winner will be notified via e-mail address and/or phone number given at time of lease signing.

12

by Deanna Mooney

1492

While there are thousands of colleges and universities around the country, a big part that plays a factor into what makes a school really great is the town they are located in. Compiling statistics on student life, town activities, student opinions, and many other aspects, we’ve narrowed it down to the top 12 college towns in America. Here’s the top college towns- and why they’re some of the best.

12. Athens, Georgia
Athens is situated about an hour and a half east of Atlanta, and is the perfect mix of southern meets hipster. University of Georgia is located in Athens, as well as Athens Technical College, and students of both campuses can enjoy an eclectic mix of art and music venues, as well as a handful of bars, and restaurants specializing in southern cuisine. Athens is a charming town with a niche for everyone, plus you can’t complain about the average temperature being 62 degrees year-round.

11. Orlando, Florida
Orlando isn’t all theme parks and tourism- the city of Orlando is one of the largest growing cities in the nation, due to the influx of new jobs, and growth of local colleges. University of Central Florida was the largest school in the nation in the 2016-2017 school year with 64,335 students, and other local colleges including Valencia College, Seminole State College and Florida State University College of Medicine enroll tens of thousands of students each year. The city of Orlando was ranked 5th for social environment and 132nd for academic and economic opportunities. Living in Orlando, students get to truly enjoy the sunshine state, while partaking in activities like pools parties, outdoor bars, parks, and farmers markets, just to name a few.

10. Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a historic, laid back and bustling city that is known for being home to the University of North Carolina. Both the campus and city have gorgeous views and nature aspects, and it has great weather almost all year. University of North Carolina is known for having some of the best school spirit in the country, which creates an environment unlike any other around town. Chapel Hill has a great nightlife scene, with dozens of bars and cafes, musical venues and lots of new breweries and distilleries that have popped up over the past few years.

9. Boulder, Colorado
People of all ages, especially young adults, have been flocking to Colorado over the past few years, and it’s no surprise why. Boulder, home of University of Colorado Boulder and Naropa University, is a nature lovers paradise. Recreational activities such as hiking, biking, snowboarding and skiing are abundant in this town, with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Students in Boulder like to relax at local breweries, bars, and small town shops and cafes.

8. Berkeley, California
What student wouldn’t want to live in sunny California? Although it’s across the bay from San Francisco, Berkeley has a cute, small town feel that is a big attraction of the local colleges there- such as University of California Berkeley, Berkeley City College, and Zaytuna College. Students residing in Berkeley like to enjoy the fun and cultural sides of town, at local coffee shops and breweries, plus they get to eat some of the best food in California.

7. Charlottesville, Virginia
Home of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville is your typical quaint, southern town- but boasts some incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and has other scenery highlights like vineyards, national parks and history museums. The historic architecture around town makes a nice touch, and the town offers some of the best parks, taverns, and art-centric spots in the state.

6. Austin, Texas
Austin is an up and coming town being swarmed by millennials and young adults. At the center of Austin lies the University of Texas, a highly acclaimed university many students are keen on attending. Known for it’s southern BBQ and some of the best bars and restaurants, Austin is always bustling. Even with a great social environment, Austin still has a small town feel, and many students take advantage of the great Texas weather by spending time outdoors at local parks and trails.

5. Boston, Massachusetts
If you’re a lover of big cities, Boston can be the perfect college town for you. It’s estimated over 250,000 college students reside in Boston, attending various schools like Boston University, University of Massachusetts, Northeastern University, and almost a dozen other universities and colleges. With so many college students in the city, there’s an endless amount of activities around Boston for students to partake in. With some of the best sports teams, historical attractions, art museums, famous bars and music venues, there’s no dull moment when you’re needing to take a break from studying and class.

4. Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor has lots of great qualities- like outdoor activities, vibrant and popular bars and restaurants, and most of all- they’re a huge football town. So while Saturday’s during football season at the University of Michigan are a favorite day, there’s still so much to do here every season. Students at Michigan have fun playing outdoor intramural sports, hitting up their favorite pubs, nightclubs and shows, and window shopping at local stores and art galleries.

3. Amherst, Massachusetts
The Five College Consortium, which is compromised of 4 local liberal arts colleges and the University of Massachusetts, is a selling point of Amherst, as students are allowed to (and encouraged to!) take classes at all of the local colleges, regardless of which school they are accepted to. Amherst has an amazing art and history scene, as the city offers dozens of history and art museums. Residents of Amherst get to take advantage of the outdoors, by spending time at the local national parks, farmers markets, walking and biking trails, mountains and recreation areas. Plus, many students stay in Amherst after graduation, so you know it’s a great place to live in.

2. Gainesville, Florida
While the football stadium at the University of Florida may be called “The Swamp”, there’s a whole lot more to do in Gainesville than just enjoy the nature that surrounds this mid-Florida town. University of Florida students and locals are huge on their school sports, so the town is always energetic and lively on any sports game day. Students paint the town hitting up the strips of local bars and restaurants on weekends and evenings, and the nature lovers get to appreciate the nearby hiking trails and natural springs.

1. Ithaca, New York
In upstate New York sits Ithaca, a picturesque town which has the highly acclaimed Cornell University and Ithaca College. Ithaca has been voted number 2 in college educated residents, and has been voted numerous times as the best place to live, as well as the best place for entrepreneurs. The town and surrounding areas have over 25 local wineries and breweries, a great art scene and an abundance of nature areas, like Taughannock Falls State Park, Cayuga Lake and Cornell Botanic Gardens.

05

Dec 2017

by Deanna Mooney

1730

It’s the most wonderful time of year! Shopping for loved ones, putting up festive decorations and listening to holiday music are all be a blast- but amidst the hustle and bustle- don’t forget to keep your home organized during the holiday season! Here’s our list of top tips to help you de-clutter before the busy holiday season.

Purge Clothing, Books, Electronics & Toys

Start off the holiday season by going through your family’s clothing, books, electronics and toys. More than likely, there will be dozens of items that are ready to be given away. The holiday season is the season of giving, so find a local place to donate your items that will go to those in need. Once you get rid of some items, you’ll be able to come up with some good gift ideas for your family!

Organize Gift Wrap and Accessories

Gift wrap, bows, tape, gift bags and tissue paper can end up taking up a lot of room, especially if you’re stocking up for the holidays. Make a game plan for how you’re going to organize all these items before you start thinking about wrapping gifts. Plastic bins are inexpensive and a great way to store various items. A favorite is the under-the-bed gift wrap bin, so all your gift wrap can stay out of sight, but stay easily accessible! Another storage hack is creating a gift wrap console on the back of a closet doorway or building a crate to keep everything together.

Clean Out the Fridge and Pantry

If you’re hosting a holiday dinner, or plan on having a party, cleaning out the fridge and pantry is extremely important! You’ll need room for your holiday ham or turkey, sides, beverages and more. Many items get overlooked, so make sure you check the dates on everything in your fridge and pantry, and throw away items accordingly. When cleaning out your fridge, make sure you wipe down all the surfaces so nothing is tainting any food!

Take A Holiday Décor Inventory

Keeping track of all your holiday décor may seem like a daunting task, but it can be beyond helpful. When getting out all your holiday decorations, create a list of all the items you have on hand. You’ll be able to see if you need to purchase any additional items, and when the holiday season is over, you’ll know you took everything down and put it away. Plus if you’re trying to re-organize any bins or boxes you put decorations in, you can pair like items to be put in the same bins to make finding items in the following years simpler.

Create A Weekly Cleaning List

Between holiday parties and events, gift shopping and family time- it’s easy to get caught up and forget to do simple house cleaning chores. A way to avoid getting stuck with a ton of cleaning at the end of the holidays is by creating a weekly cleaning list. Focus on separate areas each day, like the kitchen or dining room, but don’t overwhelm yourself. You’ll also want to add some new items to the list- like sweeping under the Christmas tree or dusting holiday decorations.

Prepare Your Gift Giving

At the beginning of the holiday season, start to map out who you’re buying for, with any ideas of what to get them. This will help you avoid missing any important person, or panicking at the last minute to find something they’ll love. Take the time to check out sales and see the best price you can get for some of your ideas. Another great way to stay on top of gift giving is wrapping gifts as you go. Create a gift wrapping area and wrap a few gifts at a time versus everything at once. This will help save room, as you won’t have to hide as many gifts under beds or in closets, and can distribute accordingly.

These tips are just a few ways to ensure you’ll head into the new year in a more organized way! Do you have an overload of holiday decorations? Self Storage is an easy solution to help store your belongings!

23

Oct 2017

by Deanna Mooney

2053

Every year, October 31st quickly approaches, and come the first of November- you’re stuck with finding a solution for storing your Halloween costumes. Over time, between your children, other family members, and your own costumes, these items can really build up. And how many times are you searching for an accessory to wear this year that you had worn a year or two before, like leggings, hats, tutus, etc.? Start planning now on ways to store these items to make your life that much easier when next Halloween rolls around! Here’s 5 easy ways to store your costumes and accessories!

DIY Dresser

If you have an extra dresser laying around, and don’t mind a small DIY project, try making a fun play piece! Remove the drawers, add some paint and insert a rod to hang up fun princess dresses, superhero outfits, or whatever else you may have been saving up! This dresser can fit perfectly in your children’s bedroom or play room, and will help get a lot of use out of the items, versus storing them away.

Bins

For those with extra garage space or an attic, one of the best ways to store costumes is in bins. These bins are typically inexpensive, airtight and keep your items in great shape, even over time. They’re easily stack-able, and are easy to access. Make sure you put labels on them so you know exactly what is in each one!

Vacuum Seal/Plastic Bags

An inexpensive way to keep your Halloween costumes organized is by using vacuum seal bags or Ziploc bags! These items are usually laying around your house, and the best part is they take up little room. Stack them on shelves, put in drawers, under beds, and almost anywhere you’ve got space to store! Remember to grab a sharpie and label, including the type of costume and size.

Towel Rod

Another inexpensive storage idea is buying and installing a towel rod. Like the DIY dresser above, this is a great way to make a fun play area to utilize your costumes throughout the year. Hanging up a rod takes no more than 5 minutes- a quick and easy solution!

Peg Boards

Peg boards have gained popularity over the years, and rightfully so- these boards make organizing 100 times easier. These boards can get hung up on walls, with pegs inserted into the holes in any order you’d like. Add as much or little as you need to hang up various costumes. You can also add shelves, other pegs for accessories, picture frames and more! Peg boards are super versatile, and can be made to fit any style.

Halloween is filled with tons of fun- trick or treating, candy, pumpkins, haunted houses, and the list goes on. But don’t let all the fun get you distracted from keeping organized! Start making your storage plans ahead of time, so you can sit back and relax this Halloween!

29

Sep 2017

by Deanna Mooney

2063

If you’re like me, when you begin to think about the fall season, you picture sweater weather, fall leaves and pumpkin spice… but living in Florida, it can be a little hard to get into the fall mood when it’s still 90 degrees outside. Thankfully, we’ve put together this list of Central Florida fall events that will surely get you into the autumn spirit!(more…)

28

Dec 2016

by Deanna Mooney

1895

As the holidays come to a close it’s time to start packing up all of your decorations and gift wrapping supplies. Storing fragile items or large items like wreaths, can become difficult and time consuming if you aren’t prepared. There are many different ways to store wrapping paper, lights, wreaths, and ornaments. Here are just 10 of the smartest ways to store your holiday items this year.

23

by Deanna Mooney

1430

As 2016 comes to a close we reminisce on all the good memories and knowledge we have gained throughout the year. This year we had some amazing new storage hacks and ideas that went viral on the internet. Here are the top 10 storage hacks of 2016.(more…)

09

May 2016

by Alex Patterson

3159

Summer weather is here and children will be on summer break before you know it. Summer activities are filled with water, dirt, and lots of running around. Keeping the home organized and clean is difficult when you are trying to keep the kids entertained and busy. Shoes track dirt through the home, toys and craft supplies spread everywhere, and water drips from wet bathing suits creating puddles that are waiting to be the cause of a slip and fall accident. You can have a smooth sailing summer using PVC pipes for organization, storage, and summer fun. PVC pipes have many uses, but storage is one that we love! Here are 8 genius ways to use PVC pipes for storage this summer.

1. Toy Storage

Create awesome toy storage to make sure the toys stay organized through out the summer. Outside activities are great for children. Creating storage for their bikes and scooters out of PVC pipe is quick and simple. This will keep the bikes out of the drive way and from possibly being in Dad’s “blind spot” when he backs out in the morning. You could create a ball rack as well. Balls are hard to store with their cylindrical shape. You can’t stack them and only a few will fit in a fairly large basket. This is a great storage solution for all the different sports balls you have in your garage! Reading is another activity that is great for children over the summer. Though school is out, it is important to continue their education to make sure they will excel in school next year. You can create a book rack for some of their favorite books. This makes it easy for the children to reach and grab a book independently.(more…)